Thoroughly enjoyable, lots of flavor but still restrained enough to appeal to a novice palate - huge drinkability - glad to know you can find pitchers of this at some of the other eateries in the area.

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Appearance  This one poured a thick, ominous dark brown in color with a light white head. It really does look like death . . . and taxes.

Smell  The rich, burnt malts are raw and rich. Did I mention they were rich? You can almost taste this with your nose.

Taste  The big burnt malts really take over this lager. There are some sugary cane flavors throughout the flavor profile as well and little hops to speak of.

Mouthfeel  Ill call this a big medium-bodied with some good, malty bittering and a bit of coffee grounds going on in here.

Drinkability  This is a terrific sipper with a big bitter finish. The Schwarzbiers I had in Germany were a little more balanced, but this was a definite winner.

Comments  This was actually my 1,500th beer review, although when I went to post it my review numbers jumped by 30 or so overnight. Must have been some programming change by The Bros.

Anyway, this was a real treat and proved to be another signature beer from the ever-ingenious Moonlight Brewing. These guys never cease to amaze, and I felt honored to partake of this fine Schwarzbier at the Flavor Bistro with my wonderful wife and a great BA, Rapapoda.

Thanks to RedwoodG for his hard work in getting this beer into my hands. Completed, signed, postmarked and home bottled on Oct. 19, 2006. Pours into my glass a deep black hue with a sliver of dark brown shooting out when held to the light. A nice light tan head sits atop the brew. Aromas begin with a strong roasty, smoky maltiness with a touch of chocolate. Black coffee notes mix in as well as a fairly big green hoppiness. Subtle graininess and caramel. Overall quite a nice aroma.

First sip brings a smooth, somewhat dry maltiness with a deep roasted flavor along with a touch of smokiness. Bitter coffee makes itself quite known along with a chocolate flavor as well. Flows down with a touch of bitter green hops. Quite bitter overall with just barely enough sweetness to counteract. This is a black lager thats packed full of flavor and I found it quite enjoyable.

Mouthfeel is quite arid and light in body with a somewhat chalky dryness to it as well. Goes down incredibly easy and is packed full of flavor. An interesting brew that I'm happy to have had the chance to sample.

22 oz bottle from RedwoodGeorge's magnificent bottling project. Thanks for the opportunity! Pours a dark, ebony body topped by a small cocoa head. Rings of lacing are left on the glass. Looks very much a stout instead of a lager. Aroma is dark chocolate and caramel accented by earthy hops and a citrusy note. A kiss of wood smoke adds a pleasant touch. Light medium body with an ideal medium carbonation. Taste has a lasting smokiness, almost like a rauchbier. Dark chocolate maltiness is dominant, balanced by an interesting hops bitterness that wavers between earthiness and citrus. Beautifully executed schwarzbier here that ranks up there with Sprecher Black Bavarian as America's best for the style. I love the smokiness in this one.

This beer pours a very dark brown color that looks black in the glass. It boasts a thin tan head that fades fast, leaving many laces in its wake.

This beer has a smokey aroma. It smells malty also, with a slight coffee aroma. Very odd from a Schwarzbier. It has a mild chocolate aroma as well. Lots of caramel in this one.

This beer tastes exactly like it smells. Caramelly upfront with a good amount of smoke flavor. Coffee and chocolate mix in as well. Again, very odd for a Schwarzbier.

This beer was refreshing. It was light in body. It goes down smooth, leaving a smokey aftertaste.

I think this beer might make a decent session beer. It is low enough in alcohol. The only problem would be that the flavor might become a little cloying after a time.

Overall: I have had this beer before, and I liked it. I still like it. I tend to find myself leaning away from lagers, and drinking more sour beers and hop bombs. This beer is a good reminder that there are many good lagers out there.

Tap, Toronado, San Francisco. A pretty unique dark lager. Mashy/oaty, quite ashy and salty, pretty big hit of hops and bitterness. Pretty tasty, but a little unbalanced. Quite smooth and grainy to , pretty interesting stuff, didn't think it was a dunkel when i was trying it though.

On tap at the Toronado. Poured a deep brown, almost black color with a fluffy white head with good lacing. The aroma is led by some bold roasted malts, coffees and a bit of hops in the background. The taste is what you smell, big toasty malts with a bit of hop bitterness blended well. This beer is enjoyable and leaves your mouth wanting more. This is my first Moonlight beer and I really enjoyed it. Wish I could get some of their beers back in the East.

enjoyed on tap at Toronado. I like the style, and this was a decent example of it, though not the best I have had. Served a little cold. Lacey. Above average mouthfeel, with chocolate and a little sour, or rather coffee bitter astringent. Good drinkability.For some reason, it did not seem at peak condition.

Had this a couple times on tap on a recent trip to SF. I'm always a fan of the style, seeking out new (at least to me) examples, and this is the best I've had. It has the agreeable drinkability of your standard dark lager or schwarzbier, but the depth of a great Baltic porter. There were fruity, cherry tones at times, and then dry toffee and cocoa with an interesting cola edge. I'm so impressed by how many, clean distinct (and delicious) dark malt flavors are crammed into this lager. Go find this beer. You need it.

On tap at the Flavor Bistro in Santa Rosa, CA. Poured a nice dark black, but with good clarity when viewed at it's edges. High roasted smell and flavor. Medium-light mouthfeel. The roastiness is front and center but on a little lighter body. Not a creamy mouthfeel or anything like Guinness. Good beer to showcase a roasted malt character and not be overtaken by alcohol or anything else.